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The Maui News
Police reported seizing more than 400 blue pills suspected to be fentanyl, after obtaining information that several people had overdosed on a blue pill believed to be oxycodone throughout last month.
Another 500 fentanyl pills are unaccounted for and believed to be on Maui, police said.
The pills stamped "M30" were recovered from a man during an investigation Friday, police said. A presumptive laboratory test showed the pills are fentanyl, with no indication of oxycodone, according to police.
Fentanyl is a powerful opioid that is 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine, police said. The counterfeit pills, also known as "K9," are believed to be supplied by Mexican cartels and look identical to prescription medication, according to police.
Tests conducted nationwide by the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2019 showed that 27 percent of these counterfeit pills contained potentially lethal doses of fentanyl, police said.
It only takes 2 milligrams of fentanyl to be fatal, police said.